Right-to-buy is 're-peopling' rural Scotland

ALMOST a decade after the passing of legislation allowing communities the right to buy land, half a million acres of Scotland have moved into community ownership.

These community owned assets have, according to a major survey released yesterday, helped to create economic activity and provide resilient communities in some of the most remote areas of the country.

But the author of the report, Dr Sarah Skerratt from the Scottish Agricultural College Rural Society Research team, admitted there was still "nervousness" among some traditional landowners over the concept.

Speaking in Perth, she said: "Community land ownership is contributing to the 're-peopling' of rural Scotland by enabling existing residents to remain in remote areas and encouraging in-migration.

"This is because ownership is giving communities the opportunity to increase local employment through the creation of new businesses."